Measuring and dispensing device



c. A. WILLMAN 2 ,2 36.203

MEASURING AND DISPENSING DEVICE March 25, 1941.

Filed June 29, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet l Inventor m I f and W Attorneys March 25, 1941. c. A. WILLMAN MEASURING AND DISPENSING DEVICE Filed June 29, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Attorneys Patented Mar. 25, 1941 \UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MEASURING AND DISPENSING DEVICE Charles A. Willman, Ontimagon, Mich.

Application June 29, 1939, Serial No. 281,948

3 Claims.

The present invention relates to measuring and dispensing devices and has for its primary object to provide a device of this character adapted for use in connection with a receptacle containing sugar or the like and which may be used on the table so as to permit the operator to dispense a few spoonfuls or other desired quantities of the material therefrom.

A further object is to provide a measuring device of this character embodied with a lid adapted for removable connection on the receptacle and in which a pair of slidable oppositely operable closure valves are provided controlling communication of a chamber carried by the lid with the receptacle so that while the closure for admitting the material into the compartment is open the other closure will be closed and vice versa.

A further object of the invention is to provide a window opening in the side of the compartment in order that the quantity of the material entering the same may be observed.

A still further object is to provide an apparatus of this character of simple and practical con- 5 struction, which is efficient and reliable in performance, relatively inexpensive to manufacture and otherwise well adapted for the purposes for which the same is intended.

Other objects and advantages reside in the de- 30 tails of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming part hereof wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which- 35 Figure 1 is a side elevational view.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view.

Figure 3 is a top plan view with the cover on the housing removed.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken substantially on a line 44 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view through the housing for the oppositely operable closures, and Figure 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of a the connection between the lever and the upper closure.

Referring now to the drawings in detail wherein for the purpose of illustration I have disclosed a preferred embodiment of the inven- 50 tion, the numeral 5 designates a receptacle, preferably of glass and having a lid 6 threaded on its upper end. Mounted on the lid is a housing 1 which includes a compartment 8 having communication with the receptacle 5 through an open- 55 ing 9 in the top of the lid, the housing also ineluding a chamber In separated from the compartment 8 by means of a vertical partition I l.

Slidably mounted on top of the lid 6 and under the partition II is a lower valve or closure l2 adapted to close the opening 9, the valve having 5 an arm l3 secured to its upper surface and projecting out through an opening in one of the vertical walls of the housing I. Secured to the housing is a bracket M to which a lever I5 is pivoted substantially at its center by means of a pin 1 l6, the lever having a finger grip I5 at its lower end. A link I1 is also pivoted adjacent its upper end as at l8 to the bracket and extends parallel to the lever IS. The lower end of the link engages the outer end of the arm [3 and the upper 15 end of the link is curved away from the lever as shown at I9. A substantially U-shaped connector 20 has one end secured to the upper end of the lever and its other end curved to conformably seat against the curved end of the link 20 to connect the link and lever for uniform pivotal movement, the connector being free of the link to compensate for the difierence in the throw thereof, it being apparent that the lever will impart a greater movement to the link to actuate the arm I3. The arm I3 is provided with a notch 2| within which one end of a leaf spring 22 is seated, the spring being secured at its opposite end within the housing and arranged to yieldably project the arm I3 outwardly with the valve l2 in an open position.

The upper end of the chamber 8 is provided with a discharge opening 23 and slidably mounted thereon is a valve or closure 24 adapted to close said opening, the valve being slidably mounted in a guide 25 formed on top of the housing 1. The valve is also formed with an opening 26 through which projects a pin 21 secured to the upper edge of a vertically positioned lever 28 which is pivotally mounted adjacent its lower end on a rod 29 extending transversely of the compartment I0. Secured to the lever 28 in a leaf spring 30 which its upper end extending toward an opposite side of the chamber In in abutting relation with a block 3| secured to the inner wall of the house The spring is adapted to normally maintain the valve 24 in a closed position.

The lower end of the lever 28 is positioned in the path of the inward movement of the arm I 3 as will be clearly apparent from an inspection of Figure 2 of the drawings so that when th arm 13 is moved inwardly to close the lower valve l2 the lever 28 will also be subsequently engaged to operate the same in a manner to open the upper valve 24. The top of the chamber .l 0 the bracket I 4 and the upper end of the lever [5 are enclosed by a removable cover 32.

Window openings 33 are formed in the side walls of the compartment 8 in which transparent panes 34 are fitted to ascertain the quantity of material entering the chamber.

Scrapers 35 are provided for the upper and lower surfaces oi the closure I2.

While a separate connector 20 is shown for connecting the lever I5 and link 11, it will be understood this element may be formed integrally with the upper end of the lever, if desired.-

It is believed the details of construction and manner of use of the device will be readily understood from the foregoing without further detailed explanation.

'Having described the invention, What I claim isfi 1. A measuring and dispensing attachment for receptacles comprising a material receiving and dispensing chamber having openings in its top and bottom portions, the bottom opening communicating with the receptacle, a sliding valve for each opening, spring means for each valve yieldably maintaining the bottom valve open and the top valve closed, a manipulating lever connected to the lower valve for closing the same, a pivoted lever connected to the upper valve and having one end in the path of a pant of the lower valve for oppositely actuating said valves, said upper valve remaining inactive during initial closing movement of the lower valve.

2. A measuring and dispensing attachment for receptacles: comprising a material receiving and dispensing chamber having openings in its top and bottom portions, the bottom opening communicating with the receptacle, slidable closures for each opening, spring means yieldably maintaining the closures in opposite positions, an arm for oppositely actuating the closures and means for operating the arm and comprising 'a pivoted lever and a pivoted link arranged in parallelism, said link having a long end engaging the arm and means connecting the short end of the link with the adjacent end of the lever and adapted to increase the throw of the long end of the link.

3. A measuring and dispensing attachment for receptacles comprising a material receiving and dispensing chamber having openings in its top and bottom portions, the bottom opening communicating with the receptacle, slidable closures for each opening, spring means yieldably maintaining the closures in opposit positions, an actuating member for the closure of the bottom opening and a pivoted lever connected at one end to the valve of the upper opening and having its opposite end disposed in the path of the actuating member for operation thereby following initial closing movement of the first-named closure, said lever being pivoted adjacent its actuated end to increase its throw at its closure connected end to compensate for its delayed movement.

CHARLES A. WILLMAN. 

